N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143B-279.18

Except to the extent required by federal or State law, the Department of Environmental Quality shall not refuse to accept an application for a permit, authorization, or certification or refuse to issue any permit, authorization, or certificate based solely on the failure of an applicant to obtain another permit, authorization, or certification required for the same project. For purposes of this section, failure to obtain a permit, authorization, or certification shall not include denial of the permit, authorization, or certification by the Department based on the standards for approval of the permit, authorization, or certification provided by law.